Following suspicions of the looting of Cameroonian gold, an administrative inquiry ordered by the President of the Republic is seen by some as a delaying tactic. According to Article 4 of the Cameroonian Mining Code, subsoil resources belong exclusively to the State, making gold a public asset. SONAMINES holds the exclusive right to purchase and sell locally produced gold.
Therefore, any illegal export of gold is considered embezzlement of public property, a crime punishable by prosecution. A minister granting an exemption to sell gold abroad, as well as the beneficiary, would be complicit in this crime.
Voices are being raised to denounce the looting of Cameroonian gold, estimating that tens of tons are illegally leaving the country each year, depriving Cameroon of billions of FCFA. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) revealed a considerable discrepancy between the quantities of gold declared by Cameroon and those imported by the United Arab Emirates. In 2023, Cameroon officially exported 22.3 kg of gold to the UAE, while the latter declared importing 15.2 tons of Cameroonian gold.
Faced with these revelations, President Paul Biya ordered the creation of a joint commission of inquiry to shed light on this trafficking. This commission will be tasked with identifying the actors involved, establishing responsibilities and proposing measures to eradicate this trafficking. Some believe that the administrative inquiry is not enough and that a criminal investigation is needed to bring the culprits to justice.
The Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, instructed the State Secretariat for Defense to coordinate an investigation into the removal of 15 tons of gold from the country. The case is causing strong reactions, with civil society actors denouncing a massive looting of natural resources with the complicity of senior officials.
The illegal exploitation of Cameroonian gold deprives the country of significant tax revenues, estimated at 164 billion FCFA per year. Some argue that if these resources were managed transparently, Cameroon could avoid resorting to debt and finance its development.
The investigation ordered by President Biya will have to determine the extent of the looting and identify those responsible so that corrective measures can be taken. The report of the commission of inquiry will be sent to the presidency for further analysis.
